Hi Cathy. :) Actually I'm one of the lucky ones. My first year ever having a butterfly garden, I had planted parsley and had BST cats galore! I was surprised because the whole butterfly garden was only 5' x 10' with black eyed susans, bee balm, zinnia, purple coneflower, liatris and a butterfly bush - with parsley hidden among all of the plants. I also bought the rue to raise GST cats on, but unfortunately have never had one. :( I haven't given up hope though. :) I might actually buy a gas plant either this fall or next spring just to increase my odds. Lisa

I tried to post a map like Angie did to show where I am in Oklahoma, but GW wouldn't let me post it--wasn't the right format. Will try again. I am in the NE Quadrant of Oklahoma, about an hour from Kansas, and a little over an hour from Arkansas. The county is Tulsa, and we are between Bixby and Broken Arrow in a residential area that used to be a sod farm. It's a good location for leps as I get some of the eastern species--like Dianas, and the western species--like Western Pygmy Blues. I've had several county records, from east, west, and south. The Orange-Barred Sulphur was probably the most unusual sighting. I chuckled while reading your story about the rue, Mary. That had to be crazy to watch. It sounds like you have a wonderful butterfly habitat. And Angie as well. Even though there is a very nice Pawpaw tree in the yard, I've only glanced a couple of Zebra Swallowtails in the BY during the time we've lived here which is 9 years. Never found any cats, so most likely the visitors were male. But, so far, the Monarchs have faithfully found my BY, spring and fall, for many years, here, and where we lived before. NE Oklahoma is on the flight path. Sandy

Mechelle is right, I HAD the Aristolochia Frimbriata or Whiteveined Pipevine. It is a slow grower, doesn't like to get the leaves wet (if they are laying on top of the soil and it rains alot, they rot). I had a little of it and I put 3 Pipevine cats on it. They devoured it and then I was left to feed them what I had of Aristolochia Tomentosa, which is the Wooly Pipevine. It doesn't grow much faster and is tougher. I found the cats don't like it as well. Anyway, I lost two of the cats, guess not enough to eat. I have one in chrysalis now. I don't get too many of the Pipevine butterflies but when I do I try to watch for the eggs and move them if I have vine for them. Another vine is Virginia Snakeroot. I ordered one from Loess who posts here but I guess it never came up. What did show up in its area was Crossvine, which looks like Snakeroot. I don't know if I was sent the wrong thing or if it somehow got into my yard. I never bought one to plant. The only place I know to check is Mail Order Natives or Shady Oaks, I think is the name. I need to order one for myself. I am hoping that the Polys slow down here. They will have to make due with the older part of the vine if they want to continue laying. My back yard in pretty wide and the vine covers two sides and a part of the third. I have given so much away and have baby plants come up. I guess I will need to let some grow to fill in where it is eaten back. I do have seeds from my Pipevine, if you want some. I don't plant them, just let them fall to the ground but others who I have given seeds to have had success. You don't need to do anything but plant in loose soil and barely cover them with soil. It does take a while to get them start.

I've done the trap-and-neuter thing, again when my situation was different. I don't have the funds or energy for it anymore. I suspect this cat is pregnant. In 2011 a cat gave birth in my ice house. The mother is now my (spayed) outside cat, Bonesy, and one of my indoor cats, Peachy, was from that litter. I was grateful to find good homes for the other kittens, but I think that maxed out the available homes. I really do not want to have to deal with another litter. I'm surrounded by dairy farms--not the best situation for stray cats, but not the worst either. Sorry to have to say it, but I hope she went up the road and is enjoying some raw milk right now. Re Craigslist, I learned when I volunteered for humane societies that Free to Good Home ads often result in a cat or dog being taken by people in the dog-fighting business. They're looking for fighting dogs or bait. Disgusting but true. There's no way I would ever place one of those ads anywhere. Those people, BTW, will show up with a child in tow, spinning a story about how the animal will be a beloved family pet. It's a horrible con.